Undead and Unwed

Here I am sitting at home feeling extremely guilty. For starters I haven't even started my English assignment which is due on Monday (clever of me), I haven't updated on fanfiction for about a month and I haven't posted in about double that time.
So I thought the time has come that I shall do all of that and more!



Undead and Unwed
MARYJANICE DAVIDSON

The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.

Betsy Taylor is having a bad week. First of all she is made redundant from her secretarial job, and then she is run over and killed in a car accident. For most people this would at least be the end of the bad week but not for Betsey. She rises from the dead as a vampire and despite several attempts to make herself dead again she just can’t stay dead.

To make matters worse her new vampire friends seem to think she is their prophesied vampire queen and they want her to help them destroy the mad vampire master Nostrodamus who currently controls all the vampires in the city. Although Nostrodamus is unpleasant, insane and a cliché of every bad vampire movie Betsy has ever seen, she has other important things to do. Like shopping for some new clothes as day wear is no longer appropriate attire for her.

On the plus side she has met the devastatingly attractive vampire Sinclair, possibly the most scrumptious man she has ever met dead or alive….



My local book-shop-owner-person recommended this to me whilst I was looking in the vampire section (and yes, I have an unhealthy obsession with Vampires now, deal with it).
Its actually really funny.
It reminds me of how I think.
The main character thinks of witty comebacks and often compares her friends to 'zoolander' and when she discovers she is 'undead' trys to kill herself by drinking bleach (sounds sad and stupid, but its just so funny). She is hilarious and all the characters are interesting and amusing. The dialogue between characters is fantastic. I wish I could make up comebacks like Betsy! This book is for slightly older readers and has a few questionable scenes *cough sex cough*
But apart from that (which is totally skip able) this book is just like a Meg Cabot book; supernatural themes with romance and drama woven in between.
Its also part of a series which I am planning on reading. :)

I would recommend this book to people who liked Meg Cabot's Mediator series, Alavon High and Jinx

More Information:
Amazon
Webie Sitie thing.

Well I better get cracking on updating fanfiction.
Captain Libeka

Newest Twilight trailer.

Breathe,
Captain Libeka.

The Earthborn

The Earthborn
PAUL COLLINS


A space station called the 'colony' was launched thousands of years ago in the hope of finding the a new earth. However, when they cannot find the fabled new Earth, the ship comes back to Earth. However time has travelled differently in space, than it has on Earth. What has only been a couple of hundred of years for the colony has been thousands of years for the citizens of earth.

The main character, Welkin Quinn is raised on the colony and is used to the militaristic culture of the skyborn (people on the colony). As this society prepares for its return to earth, its leaders-an order of elders- brainwash the people of colony, using misinformation to induce a hatred of the Earthborn and a fear of Earth. Using these emotions, the elders plan to commit global genocide of the 'savages on Earths surface'.
When his transport vehicle is forced to abort his mission and crash lands on Earth, 13-year-old Welkin Roberts has a problem. Having been born and raised in space Welkin has no idea what to expect. All he knows about Earth is what he has learned from the Colony's archives. And what he does know is not encouraging. For Skyborn kids, the Earthborn are savages and barbarians. That prejudice is put to the test when Welkin and some fellow Skyborn are attacked by Jabbers, a savage a murderous gang of Earthborn. He is saved by a girl named Sarah, the leader of a group of children, who takes him under her wing and take him to a hide away which is safe. As he experiences now things, Welkin is forced to re-evaluate his situations and beliefs. He even questions the colony and together, he and Sarah must prevent the global genocide, if he can manage to decide which side he is on.


Its quite a complex plot, and I can't explain it much simpler than that!

Once again, this book is one of three and I finished reading this series ages ago. The concept is very good and original; also the psychology of Welkin is beyond fascinating. Its captivating and draws you into the book. I have read lots of reviews on this book and many say that it is 'a disappointment'. I personally don't understand this. Sure, there is lots of complex fight scenes and sometimes Welkin's naivety is frustrating but the plot and the excitement outweigh the negatives.

Cover without writing (One of my favourite books covers of all time):

More Information :
Amazon
Paul Collin's Website

Oh and by the by, Paul Collins is an Australian author and this book is set in Australia.

Truesight

Its finally the holidays again, and we now have enough time to read instead of constantly doing school work.


Truesight
DAVID STAHLER JR.

On a frontier world is a colony called Harmony.
Like everyone who lives there, Jacob is blind.

Growing up in Harmony Station, a colony established on a distant planet by an association of blind people who have had themselves genetically altered so that their offspring will be blind too, Jacob is approaching his 13th birthday when, in the wake of a series of severe headaches, he realises that he can see. What he sees, besides previously unsuspected natural beauty all around, is that his supposedly pious, tightly knit, morally upright community harbors food thieves, adulterers, and hypocrites.

This is the journey of one young man who will discover how much there is too see- if only you are willing to look.


I really enjoyed this book, it is the first of the Truesight trilogy. This book is based in a tight knit community which has strong morals and relationships. But underneath the surface there is so much, basically corruption. I really enjoyed this book, it is all about Jacob, the main character, breaking free and forming his own opinions. Although the plot does take a while to get running, the next few books follow this one up beautifully. The whole book is about conforming with your society, and sometimes its not right!
A previous statement that I made about 'not liking science fiction', is pretty must destroyed. I have lately dipped more into this genre and I am loving some of the books which I have found.

More Information
Amazon
Author's Official Website
Fantastic Fiction

Captain Libeka.
ps. I am halfway through reading a star wars novel and will be reviewing that soon :)

Raven's Gate

Raven's Gate
ANTHONY HOROWITZ

He always knew he was different. First there were the dreams. Then the deaths began.
When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he’s sent to be fostered in Yorkshire.
It’s not long before he senses there’s something wrong with his guardian: with the whole village.
Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how different he is.
But no one will believe him; no one can help.

There is no proof.
There is no logic.
There is just the Gate.



I think I am going through a weird phase. At the moment I am reading every single book that my brother has ever recommended to me. I don't think that its normal to be reading the same books as your younger brother but its too late now.
I read this book because I was bored and I raided my brothers bookshelf. Raven's Gate was written by the author of the 'Alex Rider' series. The author has stepped away from the spy genre and has focused of fantasy. Although he has kept the central character a young teenage boy (the same as the Alex Rider series). If you liked the Alex Rider books you will be sure to enjoy these books, and know what to expect from these books (the authors style or writing doesn't change much).
Once again, I think that this book is aimed for younger readers and boys, but I found it quite enjoyable. It kept me hooked the entire way through, and I was guessing most of the plot.
Saying this however, just reading this book alone is not the best idea. This book took me one night and wasn't very rewarding, but I persisted and read the second- The Evil Ones (Oh, how very menacing). The first and second should be one book, the action and captivating story line really picks up in the sequel.
I don't think most of my fellow book clubbers would be particularly interested in this book, but I personally loved it.
I would recommend it for people who are feeling like young boys :
No really, I recommend it to people who are looking for an easy, simple read.

More Information:
Raven's Gate Website
Good Old Wiki
Authors Website

That's about it really.
Captain Libeka
ps. Happy Birthday to Emma!

Black and White Question

In reply to Grumpyteacher101's question

"With this in mind do you, as the Koob's, believe their is a definite black and white (evil or good) in modern literature or does modern literature deal more with the what if's.. (the grey's)?"

I think it is becoming more prevalent for literature at this period in time to deal with the what if's? Whether this is due to it being more acceptable now than it was in earlier years, I can't say. In times gone by a lot of people saw the world in black and white, due to what beliefs and morals people had been taught. It could also be because we have a better understanding of how the human psyche works and we think more about character motivations and backgrounds than they did in the past.

You can't limit the what if's to this time though, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a good example of a what if text from earlier times. The creation of Victor Frankenstein is complex, he is seen as a horrible person, a monster and after being labeled this for all his life that is what he becomes. He is abandoned by his creator when he wakes up, he has no one to teach him about morals and what is right or wrong, he learns from how other people treat him. We ultimately feel sorry for the creation, even after all of the wrong things that he did.

So I think there has been an increase in what if literature, but I think this is because times have changed and people are more easy going about subjects that would have caused outrage. We have a right to our opinion something that people didn't have in the past, they couldn't write things that would cause controversy, depending on the subject, they could have been killed for expressing their opinion.

You may think that this hasn't happened for a long time, but you would be wrong. 20 years ago Salman Rushdie wrote a novel called The Satanic Verses, this novel was seen as blasphemous as it spoke against the muslim god. Salman Rushdie received many death threats afterwards and was given a death sentence.

So if you place a situation like this in a time where eight year olds could be killed for the smallest of things, do you think people are going to risk their lives to make money?

Blue Haired Girl

Missing Girl - Norma Fox Mazer

Five sisters, all very different, Beauty the eldest, who sees herself as anything but beautiful, Mim the quiet shy sister, Stevie the impulsive one, Fancy talks a lot and understands little and Autumn the youngest. Five very different sisters, all unaware of the man who follows, he knows where they will be and when they will be there, they are to self –obsessed to notice, until one day Autumn doesn’t come home.

This book provides a very good story line and is really captivating…. at first. Written in a similar style to Robert Swindell’s Stone Cold this book provides insight to the mind of a criminal and the unsuspecting girls he is watching. The only downside to this book, is that because we see everything from a different point of view every chapter, the author fails to give us an insight into how the characters minds work. Missing Girl leaves a lot of questions unanswered, why does the antagonist do that, where does he come from, why is he the way he is?

This book also shares many similarities to Broken by Daniel Clay, for example the idea of 5 sisters, the constant changing to a different point of view.

I didn’t love the book, but it had a great storyline, it just needed to be expanded and fleshed out more, I thought that this would have been better as Norma Fox Mazer has written over 30 novels and short stories.

Blue Haired Girl

Daughter of the Blood

Daughter of the Blood
ANNE BISHOP (How cool is the front cover?!)

Seven year old Jaenelle, is destined to rule the Blood, if she can reach adulthood. Her power is hidden; her family believes her mad. Saetan, High Lord of Hell and most powerful of the Blood males, becomes Jaenelle's adopted father and teacher. He cannot protect her outside Hell, where he rules. She refuses to leave Terreille, risking herself to protect or heal other victims of violence. Can Daemon, Saetan's estranged son, keep her safe from the machinations of the evil High Priestess? Or will he lose his battle to control his destructive urges and endanger her?


This novel has knocked Twilight from the top of my favourite book's list. Need I say anymore to convince you of my love for this book?
This book is fantastic! Although I will say that it is by far the most sexual book which I have ever read. At least half of the main characters have been raped, are prostitutes or have sex or thoughts of sex, at least once in this novel. It isn't overly graphic, but on the other hand it doesn't just suggest the sex. But wait, please don't be put off by this. I started this book and at first wasn't sure if I should be disturbed or intrigued- I floated in the middle somewhere.
The plot is complex and is full of different character (about 50 not exaggerating). It wasn't until halfway through this book, that I finally started to understand the terms and names given to different people or things.
About half way through the book, at the point where I began to understand it, the plot slowed down and allowed for a lot of character development. Before this point I was unsure motives of characters and what they really where. A character whom I had first taken to be a cruel and manipulative man, I now understood why he put up that facade and how kind and sensitive he was under it. As I began to know the characters I grew more and more emirsed in the story and found myself predicting-but hoping it was not right- the ending. I found the perspective interesting as well. The book is never, ever from Jaenelle's perspective. It is always from people around her, people across the country or realms. Although you never get to see into her mind, it is still refreshing to see her through many, many different people perspective. In every chapter, the perspective switches 10 times exactly and this offers you a broader understanding of the 'bad guys' and the 'good guys' ideals and plots.
And another thing, this is the most orginal plot I have read in a long time. Completely inspired.
This book has a lot of dark themes, such as rape, sexist beliefs and defiantly a strong emphasis on the mental health of sex slaves. I am now half way through the second book in the trilogy and I am just as hooked as I was on the first.
Although it does have dark themes, if you think that you can handle that sort of things, the plot is wonderful, the characters and well developed and the twists always keep you guessing, you won't be able to put this book down. I even cryed at the end, the descriptions are so emotional, I am even tearing up now as I think about it- yes I know I am lame.

The best book I have read all year (yes that includes the Twilgiht Saga *shock horor*)
Just a warning: Please remember that it is a very adult book, but its aimed for older teenagers. So if you are at all sensitive do not, I repeat, do not even attempt to read this book.
Related Links:
Amazon
Anne Bishop Offical Website

Thats about all really,
Captain Libeka

The Black Tattoo

No pressure on me at all. None what so ever. Sarcasm.
I think I need to prove my point, the following events occurred at the book club at today's lunch time meeting:
RavenClawGal: Everyone who wants Captain Libeka to write the article for the newsletter say Aye!
Whole Book Club (Not including Captain Libeka): Aye!
Captain Libeka: Nay...?

The story of my life, my friends all bully me. If anyone has any suggestions for what I should write I am listening, both at school and on this blog. Blue Haired Girl has promised to help me, but I have no idea what to write. So help?
Anyway, I am writing this blog for a purpose, and here it is.


The Black Tattoo
SAM ENTHOVEN

Jack's best mate, Charlie, has always been effortlessly cool. When Charlie wakes up one day and finds a mysterious, moving Black Tattoo on his back, it's a clear sign that he's even cooler than Jack thought. To top it off, Charlie is suddenly able to fight like a kung-fu master, fly, and control the minds of others. Yes, he's got super powers.
Or does he?
Jack soon learns the terrifying truth: Charlie's incredible powers come from an age-old demon called the Scourge, who is using Charlie to bring about its evil master plan. To stop the Scourge, Jack and Charlie join forces with Esme, a girl with super powers of her own, trained from birth to fight the demon. But time is running out, as Charlie falls deeper under the Scourge's dark spell.
When the Scourge vanishes with Charlie, Jack and Esme follow their friend from the streets of London into Hell itself, where they face horrors that may well cost them their lives. Can they survive to outwit the Scourge, save Charlie, and stop an even greater evil?


This book reminds me of something that my little brother would read. Its full of boys eating bats vomit, daemons and martial arts. But don't be deterred. I started this book one fatefully night and I was rewarded by an original story! Don't get me wrong, I love vampire/romance/fantasy novels, but eventually the same old plot gets old. The Black Tattoo, however was completely original. Its concepts were brilliant and the twists were unpredictable throughout the entirety of the novel. Although I would say that this book is for slightly younger readers, or boys, I still enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Black Tattoo blows away every religion and its beliefs- this could offend people who are religious. If you think about this story, and dig deep, you can see lots of subliminal messages and serious points which the author raises.
Its very hard to believe in parts and the language sometimes becomes extremely confusing- especially in fight scenes (The technical language confused me to no end- I didn't know that there were so many ways that you could kit someone!) and in the 'gladiator pits' when the author attempts to describe the contestants. Sometimes I found myself having to go back and re-read sections because there was so much information to take in, and it was presented in a block of information. It became extremely boring.
I also found that I didn't feel emotionally attached to any of the main characters. The story doesn't spend any time setting up their lives or personalities and you are forced to pick up as much as you can during the break neck pace of the plot. Because I didn't know anything about the characters, to be quite honest I didn't really care what happened to some of them (not a good thing when they are the 'good guys').
Another negative was the main character Jack. While everyone around him has special powers or becomes special, he remains the ever suffering best friend (who narrates a vast majority of the book), its only at the end do we really get to see some of his qualities and see him fighting back. His weak mentality annoyed me, especailly when I am so used to powerful or influentual main characters.
I know, that's a lot of negatives. But to be honest the plot completely makes up for them. Its original and gritty. The language was well used and I spent a lot of time reading this book late into the night when I was supposed to be working on my assignments- in other words, it had me hooked.
In this book the concept of 'Hell' and 'God' are really funny and original. You have to read it to understand what I am saying, but it is defiantly not what you are predicting.
I defiantly think that people who enjoy books such as the Pendragon series by D. J. MacHale and all Garth Nix books, will probably enjoy this book. Oh and I also have to add that Esme- a main character in the book- was voted one of the most 'Kick-A** Female Book Characters of all time', I have to agree with this. She is pretty amazing.

More Information:
The Black Tattoo Website
Amazon
Good Old Wikipedia

Captain Libeka.

Why all the spoilers and leaks?

One of the highlights of my reading year has been ruined.


My eyes are burnt. I was innocently looking up the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini and I have seen spoilers. Full on, plot ruining, whole book destroying spoilers.

Why do people feel the need to know what is going to happen in books before they have read them? And even so, why do they feel so compelled to share it on the Internet?

Authors try so hard to keep their manuscripts and ideas private (eg. Jk Rowling and Stephanie Meyer) to make sure that the reading experience is not ruined! I personally do not understand why people actually want spoilers. Its just like reading the last page of a book, before you have finished reading it. Its a no brainer, you don't do it! When you know how a book is going to end, it makes you view the book in an entirely different way than if you had no idea how it was going to end. Although with some books the ending is fairly predicable and some people may argue that they are not spoiling much; this does not erase the fact that some books are not predicable and can be ruined. Personally, I had no idea what Stephanie Meyer was going to do in the end of Breaking Dawn, and I personally- I know lots of people will disagree- thought that certain events would transpire and that certain characters would meet there demise. If I had seen spoilers the BD I would have been totally shocked! This is exactly the case with Brisingr, I had- had is the key word- no idea what was going to happen. Now the whole book is ruined for me!

To be quite honest, when Breaking Dawn was about to be released I was petrified that I was going to innocently go onto myspace, fanfiction or simply check my emails and there would be the entire plot laid out for me too see.

I have to say, I am a massive fan of Christopher Paolini and his novels. His latest book is one of the 'must reads' of the year and now I simply typed in Eragon into Google and BAM, spoilers. Its not like I can take it back either, I have read a really crucial fact about Brisingr (the third and latest book which is to be released on the 20th of September).

This is a massive problem, in our new age of technology it is becoming easier and easier for confidentiality and copyright issues the be breached. My question is, why do people choose to ruin a wonderful book for people around the world?

Just like Midnight Sun. Midnight Sun was the whole Twilight book-which Stephanie Meyer was in the process of writing- but from Edwards perspective. Due to a leak of her manuscript she has cancelled work on the novel until she is 'more mentally prepared to write it'. This is another case of a leak which has ruined a almost published book.

I was really grateful and surprised that the 7th Harry Potter book wasn't spoiled, but I am digressing.

I am just really upset.

And annoyed.

I don't even know if I will end up reading it because it is ruined!

No, that's not true, I will defiantly read it, but it will be ruined and I will be extremely sad.

This is basically a warning, do not, I repeat, do not look up anything to do with The Inheritance Cycle or Eragon or Eldest or Brisingr or Christopher Paolini

Oh well, I have to say that this spoiler has managed to quell some of my enthusiasm for this novel, but I am still psyched.
Captain Libeka

City of the Beasts

Our blog is being used by people other than Blue Haired Girl and me! Go technology.
Not to be out done by blue haired girl- who pointed out, quite rightly, that she is the only one to write a book review in this month *shock horror*- I have decided to post an 'its September and I hate this weather' post.
Of course I might decide to add a little book review in here somewhere.


City of the Beasts
ISABEL ALLENDE


When his mother is in hospital, Alex Cold is sent to his fierce, wonderful Grandmother Kate- a pipe smoking, vodka drinking, old reporter. Kate is about to embark on an expedition to the dangerous, remote world of the Amazon rain forest for the International Geographic magazine, but rather than change her plans, she simply takes Alex along with her.
Alex is dragged into a world of adventure where he meets a strange local girl named Nadia and they soon embark on a dangerous adventure in search of a fabled beast.
The Yeti.
Alex and Nadia soon discover that there is far more than meets the eye in the mysterious Amazon rain forest.


I was given this book ages ago as a birthday present- once my family finally understood my addiction to novels- and I have just recently re-read it. Lately I seem to be re-tracing my steps and revisiting books which I have read earlier in my childhood. I think this is vital, I missed so many themes and major ideals and morals in the novels. It just proves how innocent and naive a child's mind is. I used to view this book one way, and now my whole perception of it has altered now I have a greater insight as a more 'mature' (not debatable) reader.

This was the first book that Isabel Allende wrote of younger readers and her mature writing style really does betray that fact.
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and never became boring, even though the author used excessive amounts of descriptive language. Certain parts satisfied me, eg. the bad guys getting there comeuppance (involving a wild animal :P).
Underneath the bravado of the adventurous storyline lurks a deep and meaningful storyline which is riddled with religious undertones.
Basically, there is far more than meets the eye to this book.
Isabel Allende displays her wonderful writing skills in this novel and I was absorbed until the ending.
I have to say, however, that the ending completely confused me. I tried to understand it and failed dismally. If anyone else would like to read it and inform me of what the heck is supposed to be happening near the end, be my guest.
Although it was a slightly disappointing ending (maybe it was lost in translation when it was translated from Spanish to English?), I still enjoyed this book and its two sequels.

That's about it really.
Its kind of late and I can't be bothered re-reading this and making it all pretty. I think I better stop avoiding my English home work (I hate editing).
Captain Libeka.






RANDOM EDWARD CULLEN LOVE MOMENT.
Gah, don't you just want to marry that certain fictional character?

MacBeth

Hello y'all I am "MacBeth"
I am a new comer to the reading of the Twilight serieses and the blogging world
hehehehe yay!
Now I will tell you all my secrets...............
I eat cheese!........
........ummm anyway a more serious note....
I love Edward Cullen yay me!!!!!!!
I just finished reading New Moon and am on the scout for Eclipse,
but Capitan Libeka has graciously offered her mint conditioned
kissed and signed by Edward Cullen Book
.....The Twilight series is so cool .... I did not realise how hooked I would get ...
well its not like i am sleeping with the books under my pillow "cough,cough"
bye for now yay bye bye blogg you soon ...... =)

Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen’s seventh novel. Just Listen is a captivating book about the struggles of a teenage model.

Annabel is the girl who has it all, she is popular and recently starred in a television commercial for Kopf’s department store. Over the summer everything changes, her best friend dumps her and her home life becomes hectic because of her anorexic sister.

Everything changes when she meets Owen Armstrong, he is tall, dark and handsome. Can this music-obsessed reformed bad-boy solve the mystery which is Annabel Greene?

Just Listen is a beautiful story, about the overlapping problems of a seemingly perfect family.

I decided to read this book as I had read 2 of Sarah Dessen’s other books, This Lullaby and Lock and Key. Just Listen managed to entice me just as the others did, I found it hard to put down.

Recently I have lost my will to write reviews, this is due to feeling inadequate because of a review one of my best friends wrote, then I decided that the only way to match up to his reviews is to get some writing practice, the only problem? I cannot think of a thing to write about.

Blue Eyed Girl (due to my hair losing it's blueness)

P.S I'm quite impressed with the increase of reviews the Koobs have done last month, this is due in large parts to Captain Libeka

The Marowack Two

"I Lay there paralysed, mouth full of silver and every nerve ablaze. Stuck in a hospital bed.

No Memory.

No Identity.

And it's funny, in a macabre kind of way... I knew that I'd been through this before."

Heck from Marowack and Kira the Menace.

Two against the world and each other.

They're about to find out that

love can hit like lightning.

The Marowack Two- LIONE STEVENS
Imagine being hit be lightning.
That is exactly what has happened to Kira, but its not only happened once. It's happened 12 times. She can't get away from it. By some freak twist of fate she seems to be a lightning magnet. Every time she is struck she looses her memory and almost every time her and her mother move. After another strike, Kira and her mother move to a small town in the middle of no where- because this town has the lowest number of thunderstorms in all of Australia-while trying to regain her memory.
She meets Heck who is her polar opposite and they despise each other. However, when Kira is hit by a bolt of lightning (sigh, again), her amnesia opens the door to a unexpected change in their relationship.The entire book is about Kira remembering her past and coming to grips with her new present.


This is not a very big book in popularity. I swear, I could not find hardly any information about this book anywhere on the Internet. Not on wikipedia- le gasp- or on Amazon.
This would have to be the most unappreciated book ever. I loved this book. Kira has a strong, sardonic female voice and the author switches between the two teens perspectives. It is masterfully written and the author encapsulates perfectly the feelings which the characters would feel. I found that I was drawn to this book immediately, I have never read anything like it and it was completely amazing, purely because it was so original. It looks like a fairly short book but it is deceptively long with the font size at about 8.
What I loved most about this book was the characters, I could just fall in love with their quirky natures and crazy antics. The author developed the characters perfectly.

I found myself sympathising with Kira's mother as she trys her hardest to give Kira a normal life (which seems utterly impossible).

This has a environment theme running throughout the book and the whole 'saving the trees' thing is very central to the plot and character development. Another good thing, this is set in Australia and makes more sense! And I also love reading Australian comedies, they are usually more to my taste than the American comedies.

I would have to say that this book fits into so many genres! Romance, Amnesia (Medical), Eco terrorism, Friendship and slight science fiction. I know it sounds like a weird book, but it is really worth the read (if you can manage to find a copy).

More information: (After lots of Searching)

Interview with the Author

Chapter 1: Extract

About book- Written by Author.

Publisher- Puffin Summary

Captain Libeka
Just a quick warning, The Marowack Two is intended for older readers. Eg. Lots of swearing and sexual references.

The Seer and the Sword

The Seer and the Sword
VICTORIA HANLEY

Princess Torina knows nothing about the wars which her kingdom constantly participate in. Her beloved father returned home from one of these- and to Torina that is all that matters. But with him he brings strange gifts: a beautiful sphere in which she glimpses strange images and a boy- a former Prince of the concurred land- offered to her as a slave.
Torina saves the Prince's- Landen- life, and they form a forbidden friendship. As Torina grows, so does her kingdom and the threat to both children, both from outside and inside the palace.
Torina soon discovers that she can see glimpses of the future in the little ball. A few years pass, and Torina is betrothed to Vesputo, a cold and ruthless soldier who pretends to be kind and loving around her. But Landen knows that Vesputo only want to marry Torina for her crown, that he really cares nothing for her.

A tale of romance and betrayal of the royal kind.

When I first picked this book up at my local bookshop, I was unsure if I would love it or loath it. I am glad to say that I loved it! This book reveals that I have a massive affliction with fairy tales retold, or tales which resemble a fairytale! This whole book reminds me of a fairytale, and now that I think about it, Robin Hood!
This story begins with Torina, she is only 10. It is quite refreshing that the main character starts of as a child instead of a teenager or adult, because you get to see her innocence and you watch her grow up. I really liked how Tornia grew from 10 to 19 in the book, it was beautifully done and it was perfect for the books style.
This book is slightly predictable in some aspects, but in others left me guessing until the end. I stayed up extremely late to finish this book and it made me feel very emotional. I think that the author is excellent at writing morose scenes and character angst. I thought that perhaps some characters could have been developed more, for instance Torins Mother and Father and perhaps Landen could have remembered more of his country and family (I didn't feel much sadness at the countries demise, more details and memories would have helped).

Fans of Tamora Pierce might, I repeat might, like this. Although Torina is not like Tamora's 'no-nonsense' main characters. This was another thing that slightly annoyed me, at the start of the book, the author made such a big deal of teaching Torina archery. She used it once in the entire book. I think that the author should have used this skill and make Torina less of a wuss.
The cover which is displayed is the edition which I purchased, but the new cover is very uninspiring and I have to say, ugly. So please don't judge this book by its cover. Why do people insist on having bad book covers on such good books?
Defiantly not a 'must-read' but it is still quite a good book for light reading. I really enjoyed it.

I couldn't review this book earlier because I was too busy writing fan fiction for a certain Blue haired Girl

More Information:
Amazon
Victoria Hanley's Official Website
Wikipedia- Characters with a few spoilers.

Captain Libeka.

A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb

Though I could not feel the paper between my fingers,
smell ink, or taste the tip of the pencil, I could see and
hear the world with all the clarity of the Living. They,
on the other hand did not see me as a shadow or a
floating vapor. To the Quick, I was empty air.

Or so I thought.

Helen is a ghost who is haunting a high school English teacher, James is a ghost possessing an abandoned body of a teenage boy. What happens when these two meet and inevitably fall in love?

Okay, so I read this book because a website told me to. Basically a couple of months ago I started compiling a list of books that I could read after the Twilight saga was over and OMG this book is brilliant. Some parts of it confused me at first, especially the way the author switched between calling the boy who was possessed James (the spirit) and Billy (the boy who is possessed).

The reason this is so short is because it is 1:27am and my brain is just about ready to shut down for the night.

Bye...x Blue Haired Girl

How I Live Now - Meg Rosof

Daisy has been sent to England, her father can't deal with her starving herself anymore and her step-mother is not exactly sorry to see her leave. She has been sent to live with her family in England, in a small place in the middle of nowhere, entirely different to New York City the place she has lived her whole life, so why does she feel so at home? Why does she feel completely safe around her cousin Edmond? Why is the world at war and why is the seemingly perfect life she has just found been ripped away from her?

So, I read How I Live Now because our amazing sponsor (whose name I am not going to disclose) recommended it to us. I completely agree with her, this book is amazing, we have everything a good novel needs, we have death, love, happiness and conflict. It's an easy to read book with a moving story.

Blue Haired Girl

P.S I apologize for the shortness of this post, but my mum is dragging me to the shops :O

Science Fiction

Well to me a science fiction novel is like any other novel, it has to be well written and have a good storyline. Like Captain Libeka I am influenced by my family, the only difference, I grew up watching Star Trek, Stargate SG1 and Voyager with my family.

I have a question to ask, do you think that you dislike science fiction because you haven't read many good science fiction novels?

Personally the technical language doesn't bother me, I understand the majority of it.

After reading Captain Libeka's post I did a little research, I found a website called Austar which has a list of their top 1o0 science fiction novels, I looked at the list and realized that, I have not really read science fiction.

I must admit I don't read science fiction a lot, I think the last science fiction book I read was War of the Worlds by H.G Wells, which I really enjoyed, I thought that it was well written and provided a good explanation for everything, which a lot of science fiction/fantasy novels don't do, lots of them leave you asking questions.

Well... I think I've said everything I wanted to say.

Blue Haired Girl

The Key to Rondo

IMPORTANT!

Turn the key three times only.

Never turn the key while the music is playing.

Never pick up the box while the music is playing.

Never close the lid until the music has stopped.

The old music box, painted with scenes of villages, dark forests, a castle on a hill and a queen in a long blue gown, has been handed down through Leo's family. Now it belongs to Leo, and although he respects its rules, his least favourite cousin Mimi does not. When the rules are broken, Leo's ordered life changes forever as they plunge together into the fantastic world of Rondo.

I was, to say, intrigued to find a full-sized novel by Emily Rodda sitting innocently in the back row of new books at the library. I used to be quite a vivid fan of this Australian author after I was plunged into the Deltora Quest series in Year 3- I still have the full collection of books, all fifteen of them, crammed between my hardbacks and my manga novel collection. I even pick them up from time to time, and fight to keep my siblings' hoarding hands off them.

Somehow, this book seemed to jump the long queue of my reading list, and I found myself carrying it along Saturday morning to umpiring to read it during my breaks. Since our blog has become plagued with numerous reviews, I thought it appropriate to add some of my own to the list.

Despite this being a book aimed at nine to twelve year-old children, I found this book charming and highly enjoyable. It reads halfway between the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis and Shrek, happily destroying the typical stereotypes of fairytale characters, while still capturing all the charm that accompanies Enid Blyton's books (Who didn't fall in love with her books as a child? My first novel was Bimbo and Topsy!). The storyline moves along at a good pace, never overwriting scenes nor hurtling along at a breakneck pace, while the characters are both believable and charismatic. My single criticism is that the ending didn't quite satisfy me enough for my liking, and the characters were prone to fits of contrariness and indecision. Otherwise, it was a very entertaining book, good for those still recovering from Twilightitus.

-RavenclawGal :)

The Chrysalids

The Chrysalids
BY JOHN WYNDHAM

(This book has lost of different covers, don't be deterred by some of the very strange covers)

This book is set post apocalypse in a world where you must be genetically perfect. If a child has an extra toe it will automatically result in the death of the baby, a pig with more hair than normal will be put down, and corn kernels from on plant that are not perfect will require burning the entire field. In this world, imperfection is becoming harder to detect with mental abilities arising which are almost impossible to detect.

When the main character David, develops telepathic powers at a young age, he is able to communicate with a group of other children his age. As they grow up, you follow their journey and the troubles which the encounter trying to hide it from there families and friends, knowing full well that if they are found out they will be killed.

When they are exposed David, together with a the rest of the group, all grown up now, are forced to flee for their lives. They are re-united with their friend Sophie, earlier banished to the Fringes- an unsafe area not fit for habitation because of radiation- for the 'disgusting' fault of having six toes instead of the normal five. David's younger sister, Petra, able to communicate her thoughts with a power and at a distance far beyond any of the other children discovers the presence of others like them in a distant community who mount a campaign to rescue the children from their persecutors.

John Wyndham has hit on many different topics in this novel which include religious fundamentalism, intolerance and narrow-mindedness. This book made me cry and made me happy at the same time. It made me think, really think.

Yet I found myself sympathising and understanding the community which prosecuted the children. Although they are vicious, they all made it through an apocalypse and have little knowledge of anything before it (our time) and have very few technologies. Fear can make monsters from the best of people and this novel captures that beautifully. Wyndham wrote so naturally, his thoughts of the characters and the dialogue are beautifully done.

This book is science fiction WHILE facing many different issues- both obvious for the characters and his underlining messages to do with intolerance which have worked there way into this novel.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, one of my favourite Science Fiction books! It's a really worthwhile read.
(It was recommended to me by my Dad :P)

Another quick point:
Isobelle Carmody stole this plot. I was shocked to discover that her series "Obernewtyn Chronicles" was startlingly close to this novel! In fact, it is almost exactly the same! Although I do like the Obernewtyn Chronicles, but I was quite annoyed when I figured out that she used a similar plot (Obernewtyn is set in a post apocalyptic world where perfection if key and people start to develop mental abilities etc.).

Other information:
Amazon
Wikipedia- John Wyndham
Wikipedia- The Chrysalids

Captain Libeka.

Science Fiction Query

Science Fiction is that class of prose narrative treating of a situation that could not arise in the world we know, but which is hypothesized on the basis of some innovation in science or technology, or pseudo-technology, whether human or extra-terresial in origin.
Kingsley Amis (London, 1960)

It seems that the teachers were impressed by our blog. Slightly disconcerting, but an interesting prospect. A group of teachers reading out blog. I don't know whether to be petrified or impressed.
It has come to my attention that I have been very hypocritical. As will be pointed out in the next question which I will answer (Because I have far too much spare time).

The question for the day:What about science fiction do you not enjoy? Define.

Okay, Where to start?
I think I have been hypocritical and I will here I will contradict myself. I do enjoy science fiction, but it has to be a very specific type. I do recognise that fantasy and science fiction are very closely related and have many connections and similarities eg. immersing yourself in another world.
Just like fantasy novels, science fiction novels must have other themes and genres within the novel to keep me interested.
I like science fiction with lots of themes and meaning, I don't like the pure "death star, shooting laser guns and teleporters" the real hardcore science fiction (which I have to admit, there isn't a lot of around). Racism and prejudice's are my favourite themes for novels. For an example, I read a book called "The Chrysalids" by the author John Wyndham. This book is full of modern day themes which has been translated into a science fiction genre. This book is bordering on fantasy rather than Science fiction.
I don't think I am making my point very clearly.
What don't I like about science fiction?
The technical language about 'Space ships', this is the type of science fiction I don't enjoy. I don't like pure science fiction. I need other things included in novels; for example humour, drama or romance. I need to be able to relate to a novel to really be drawn into it and having themes, human habits or problems can really help me relate and connect with the characters and story. I find that I just get bored with certain Science Fiction. I don't know quiet what it is, whether it is the confusing and sometimes obscure story lines or the high-tech language.

Books like "The Hitch Hikers Guide the the Galaxy" is a wonderful example of science fiction which I do enjoy. This is mostly because it is humorous and full of characters who I can relate to!
Perhaps I myself have a prejudice against Science Fiction, my Dad is a big fan of novels which are exactly what I dislike about this genre (Hardcore Science fiction) and I automatically want to do the opposite of what my Dad tells me. So when he tells me that I will like his books and that I should read them. I automatically oppose.
I still don't think that I am making much sense. But it is Friday night so you must excuse me.
Not my fault.

Hope this answers everything, but I am sure that it does not.
If the 'Blue haired Girl' would like to have her say about this question... Feel free to post another blog.

Captain Libeka.

Children Of The Dust

A lot of people would pick this book up look at the cover, then put it down. BIG MISTAKE!!!!

Children of the Dust is an apocalyptic science fiction novel set in the time of the cold war. It starts with Sarah's point of view, Sarah has gone to school and up until lunchtime it had seemed like a normal day. Suddenly the fire bell rings everyone gathers inside and is told that a full scale nuclear war has started.

It follows the story of Sarah and her family dealing with the nuclear fall out and dealing with the fact that they have no idea where their father is or whether he is safe.

I really don't want to give too much away, so I will just tell you that the story is divided into 3 parts, showing three different generations of the family.

It has been a while since I have read this book, I remember that this book really gripped my attention and that I found it very hard to put down. Louise Lawrence has a brilliant writing style and this book is very melodramatic and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.

Blue Haired Girl

Goodnight Mister Tom

It's WWII, London is being bombed, children are being evacuated into the county side and in a small village called Little Weirwold a story is beginning to unfold.

This amazing story starts, when antisocial Tom Oakley is forced to take in an evacuee, young William Beech. Soon after taking William in Tom realizes that he has been abused mistreated and starved, he tries his hardest to show William what a loving home is like. Soon William has settled in, made friends and discovered his talent for drawing. Only to have everything ripped away from him when his overly religious mother calls him back to London.

The first time I read this book was when I was in year 5, my favourite thing about this book, is that it can be read over and over again and each time you'll fall in love with it again. It will make you laugh and cry, it's truly a book that once read will never be forgotten.

Goodnight Mister Tom is Michelle Magorian's first book and in my opinion her best book, it's a very moving book, I would say it is one of my all time favourite books. Which some people may find unusual seeing as most books that I read are not historical drama's.

Blue Haired Girl

Just Listen

Just Listen
SARAH DESSEN

After being caught with her best friend's Sophie's boyfriend at a summer party, Annabel Greene is starting her junior year alone and cut off by all her friends who are disgusted by her behaviour. But its not what it seems, Annabel was almost raped by Sophie's boyfriend. Annabel hasn't and will not tell anyone about the incident (reminding me of speak) . Her solid family seems fragile, too. What happened to cause the stiff silences and palpable resentments between her two older sisters? Why is no one in her loving but determinedly cheerful family talking about her middle sister's eating disorder? She finds an unlikely friendship with the schools loner, Owen, a DJ at the community radio station who is never without music to drown out the silence. He will be her key to unlocking her voice, and letting people hear the sometimes painful but always true things that she needs to say.

This books is fantastic. I read it about a year ago and I just re read it earlier this month and I fell even more in love with the story. This is a story about a lot of things, from complex family relationships, to the world of modeling to the importance of music, but mostly it's the story of one girl finding her voice.
Annabel has a clear and precise voice in the novel and draws emotion from you easily. I found myself crying at the most random moments- I swear I cried about 5 different times during the novel.If you were a fan of 'Speak' you will absolutely love this book.

Sarah Dessen is the same author who wrote 'Lock and Key'.
Websites of interest:
Amazon
Sarah Dessen's Website

Captain Libeka

Artemis fowl & the time paradox

Artemis fowl & the time paradox
By EOIN COLFER

Artemis's mother has contracted a deadly disease--and the only cure lies in the brain fluid of African lemurs. Unfortunately, Artemis himself was responsible for making the lemurs extinct five years ago. Now he must enlist the aid of his fairy friends to travel back in time and save them. Not only that, but he must face his deadliest foe yet...his younger self.

The sixth book in this series. I have read the first five and I can't wait to get my metaphorical claws into this one. I personally have not read this novel yet-it was just recently released- but I know a few girls who absolutely love this series and didn't know about this new book! Eion Colfer- like JK Rowling- has encouraged a whole new generation to read fantasy/adventure novels. He has brought excitement and fun into the minds of children everywhere who always thought 'reading was boring'. He is truly a skilled writer.

Trailer (For the book) released on youtube; very cool.


Websites with more information:
Wikipedia (Warning, this site has spoilers)
Amazon
Eion Colfer's Homepage

Captain Libeka

Bullying

Bullying is a massive problem.



I was thinking about it last night. Why do we all relate so well to novels such as 'Destroying Avalon' and books which involve bullying?
The answer is obvious.
At some point in our lives we have witnessed or been victim too bullying.
Everyone understands what it feels like to have rumours spread about you, everyone understand what it is like to be in pain. But are we all really doing everything that we can to stop it?
Lots of people I know would rather ignore the bullying than seek help, even after seeing, reading and talking about the help that you can receive all throughout primary school.
I admire authors who have enough guts to write about an issue like bullying, especially if it comes from personal experiences. I think that these sorts of books help to raise awareness in teenagers about a large problem which we all turn a blind eye to.
How many times have to witnesses bullying? How many times have you sat and listened to someone spread a rumour about somebody else?
I can safely say that all girls in my school have either started or passed on a rumour about someone else- even though the intent is usually not malicious. I'm not trying to be nasty, but it is the cold hard truth.
Bullying books effect me so strongly. Even though I have never been bullied to the extremes like some of the girls and boys are in books, I feel like I can relate to them. I have had my fair share of nasty rumours spread about me- just like most teenage girls. I think that society just accepts that this is the way things are. I don't think it should be so common that girls and boys get bullied!
I think that there should be more authors out there, willing and daring enough to write about the facts and realities of school life and bullying.
Destroying Avalon is the perfect example. In lots of books it is step to a strict formula- girl/boy goes to a new school, girl/boy gets bullied by the 'popular people'- boy/girl does something that stops the bullying- girl/boy win the king/queen prize at prom.
Destroying Avalon- if you have read it- ends on a bitter sweet note and doe not sugar coat the reality of bullying and its consequences.

Bulling is wrong, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out, but we can all help to stop it by raising awareness and supporting our friends. But most of all, I think we all have to realise that it is a fact of life, there will always be those who are jealous of you and want to take away your confidence. Tell someone. Don't let it be locked up inside you.
Captain Libeka.

PS. Just a subject which I feel very strongly about, I had to express my thoughts. Sorry for the rant.

Hawksong

Hawksong beats the classics; Romeo and Juliet never could shape shift.

The book Hawksong by Amelia Alwater-Rhodes.
Danica Shardae is a avian shape shifter. She is a princess of her people who, like the birds they become, is reserved and disciplined, yet full of passion. Her people have been at war with the serpiente, a people who shape shift into serpent forms, for so many years that no one remembers how it all started. The hatred and bloodshed have taken a heavy toll on both sides, and Danica and Zane Cobriana, a prince among the serpiente, are determined to stop it, at any cost. He is the last of his line as is Danica and so he proposes that the avian and serpiente royalty meet at a neutral place and seek mediation to end the war. The mediator proposal-that Danica and Zane marry-is so crazy and repugnant a plan that both parties leave immediately. The young people, however, consider it in spite of the apparent lunacy, because it would mean an end to the fighting. But can they pull it off? And can they keep the dissenters among them from destroying this shred of a chance for peace?
They must pretend to be in love when in his lands, but the the overwhelming fear she feels in Zane's presence doesn't help the situation. She knows well enough that he could end her life swiftly and take control of her people.
All Zane asks for is trust; to end the bloodshed, but that may be more than she can give.

This is a wonderful love story- twisting around the classic Romeo and Juliet- marked with twists and turns masterfully done. I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to any romance lovers out there. The book has many darker themes such as racism, prejudice and war. I just had to review this book because it is one of my absolute favourites- I even got it imported from America (my wallet still hurts) because the local library lost its copy!

Some reference websites with more information:
Wikipedia
Amazon
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes official website

Just a note, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes writes amazing vampire novels. Happy Twilight lovers?
Captain Libeka

The Host

Science fiction for people who don't like science fiction



Until 'The Host' I was never a big fan of Science Fiction novels. They confused, bored and annoyed me. When my friend lent me 'The Host' by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight). I started it and was immediately draw into her world.

It's been years since parasitic aliens calling themselves "Souls" have invaded Earth and taken over. Once a "Soul" is placed in a human host, the alien takes over and suppresses the humans mind. But when Wanderer awakes in her new body, she finds that her human host isn't so easily overcome. Melanie-the human-, her younger brother, and the man that she loves have been in hiding; and she'll do anything to get back to them, even resist the alien parasite that has taken over her body. Against her will, Wanderer develops feelings for the people in Melanie's memories and she falls in love with the man- Jarred- in Melanie's thoughts.
Going against her entire morals and her species, Wanderer and Melanie form a friendship as they join forces and search for Melanie's loved ones.

Meyer developed Wanderer and Melanie's characters from the beginning and I found myself so attached to them both as the book progressed and her personality was revealed. I could not put the book down and I am ashamed to add that I finished The Host at 3:46 last night (not a good idea when I had Maths the next morning). Althought it was odd, with the two people in one body, it was the perfect setpup for a love triangle- four people, three bodies.

Don't like science fiction? It doesn't matter. The book is more focused on the drama and romance aspect of the storyline. A really good read, and I recommend it to anyone who is busy waiting for the Twilight movie and the new book Midnight sun.


Further Information can be found at the following places
Wikipedia
Stephenie Meyer's Website
Amazon

Captain Libeka

Blue Haired Girl

As Captain Libeka and Ravenclawgal seem to keep referring to me as Blue-Haired Girl, i'm changing my blogger name to Blue-Haired Girl (when the blue fades, i'll probably change my name again.

Blue Haired Girl =D

Query Reply- Grumpy Teacher.

I have cut down on my blogs dramatically (after my Mafia buddies at school came and told me I was 'hogging the blog'), but alas the lure is too great and I find myself, once more, sitting at my computer blogging. I plead for your forgiveness.

I was looking a while ago at the comments left on our blogs etc. and I realised that we have a question which has been -quite skillfully, I may add (nice grammar and spelling)- posed to the koobs. Since I don't have any English home work at the moment (Go me!!), I think I shall answer it. Any one else that wants to answer it after me, be my guest, but I will put in my two bobs worth.

1) What attracts you to books that deal so heavily with the occult or anything that has been demonised for centuries by Judeao-Christian (Western) culture? e.g witch craft, vampires...or is it the fact that the protagonists in these stories are of your age and you feel a relation to them?

Personally I love everything supernatural- from Harry Potter to Twilight. For me, I am most strongly pulled in by the world which authors create, most of them so original and imaginative (eg. JK Rowling). Books are a realistic escape from life and the normal drag of school and work.
Every girl and boy, at some point in their life, have wished to be a princess, fairy, knight, vampire or angel- I think that what draws me most to these books, is that fact that my own fantasy's being played out on paper. When I was younger I loved vampires (to the point of an overly weird obsession), I wished that I could be bitten so I could be special; be a vampire. Personally I think these books are so successful because everyone wishes the events in novels could play out in their own lives.
I enjoy everything daemonic in these kinds of books. I don't really what draws me to them, I think it is fascination and legend which society has built up around topics such as witch's and vampires. I just want to know more about them!
I want to know what these 'creatures' are thinking and how they act. Older stories portray them very differently than the modern day style which seems to have come into vogue ('good' vampires and wizards etc.).
Submerging yourself in a supernatural book rather than a tween-angst-romance novel is far more exciting and I love the fact that I can relate to the characters -even if they are vampires or daemons- and their problems. I suppose it does help that most of these characters are our age and are targeted at a teen aged audience. It does mean that I can relate to them on certain levels. I don't think, however, this is the deciding factor when it comes to what draws me to these sorts of books. I am a fan of teen-real-life-drama novels but they don't hold the same appeal as a teen-supernatural book does.
Like most girls my age, I am a sucker for a good romaine book- not the stupid 'girls meets boy falls in love, gets married, has hundreds of children, all before the age of 18 etc.', I enjoy romance books with a story line, or a massive twist (Yet again 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter'), and not entirely focused on the romance factor (a good example is 'Meg Cabot').

Hopefully this answered your query. (I don't know if any of my friends have already answered your comment, but too bad)
Oh and thank you very much for the recommendations, I will defiantly make sure to check them all out.
And for everyone else who is interested, here were the authors recommended by grumpyteacher101

1. Edgar Allen Poe (all things insane and creepy)
2. Anne Rice (Vampire and Demonic tales) Best started with Interview with the Vampire

So, that's about it tonight. I wont take up any more of our 'valuable' space on the blog. I am a tad bit afraid that the ridiculously tall girl and blue-haired shorty (both active members of the school Mafia) will come and take me out if I don't stop blogging. Hopefully they class this as a worthwhile blog.

Captain Libeka.

Warning! Spoilers Alert! Avoid!

Do not go on to Stephenie Meyer's site. Yes- do not, unless you have a crazed insane wish for Breaking Dawn to be spoiled. Do not go onto any Twilight fansites, view any Twilight related forums, nor go into any chatrooms of such. There are huge spoilers at work here.

Do not repeat my mistake. Stay away. See my blog here for more spoiler warnings if you need them. And if anyone posts these spoilers in the comments here or mentions them at all tomorrow or on Monday, I will find you and I will track you down.

-RavenclawGal :) I love you all, really.

Half Blood Prince Teaser Trailer

Today WB Studios released a Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince teaser trailer world wide



Mrs Edward Cullen

Breaking Dawn Quotes

I just went of Stephenie Meyer's website and she has been releasing quotes from Breaking dawn on her website everyday!
Tell me which one is your favourite. Warning: If you haven't finished reading Eclipse this may soil things a bit (Maybe). My favorites are in bold.



Alice: "I'll play you for it. Rock, paper, scissors."
Edward: "Why don't you just tell me who wins?"
Alice: "I do. Excellent."

Bella: "Oh, Mike! How will I go on?"

Tanya: "Ah, Edward. I've missed you." (TANYA?!?)

Emmett: "Oooo, scary."

Bella: "Jasper? What do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not taking him to a strip club, are you?"

Charlie: "Bells, we're up to bat."

Edward: "You're awfully small to be so hugely irritating."

Bella: "Why am I covered in feathers?"

Alice: "No one will dare to call you plain when I'm through with you."
Bella: "Only because they're afraid you'll suck their blood."

Edward: "Oops."

Renee: "Alice wouldn't let us do anything else. Every time we tried, she all but ripped our throats out."

Edward: "Do you want me to sing to you? I'll sing all night if it will keep the bad dreams away."

Rosalie: "Over my pile of ashes."

Edward: "You look so guilty-like you've committed a crime." (lol)

Sam: "This is not something our treaty anticipated. This is a danger to every human in the area."

Rosalie: "I'd like to beat you dead."



So many options with all those lines! Its so exciting. Tanya is back? My favourite one is the first line. The rock, paper, scissors line the best. Its awesome.
-Captain Libeka

BREAKING DAWN

One more week!

Only 7 days. (Tomorrow)

Only 7 nights.

I just looked at the calender and realised that their is only a week until Breaking Dawn is released! And I went mental.

Ugh, I can't wait. Yet at the same time I am really sad that it is ending. All the anticipation and fun of reading all the books, and it is finally ending in 7 days. I have to say that it is rather bitter sweet.
However. Do not fear. Fanfiction is here.
If Stephanie Meyer kills Edward or any of my favourite characters, I will cry and eat chocolate and then go and read some fanfiction. Solves most bad endings (eg. The City Of Bones, I hated the ending. It was stupid and pointless and stupid. Don't read it!!).

So yeah.

7 days people! Get excited!

Forbidden Love!!!!

In all my favourite books, movies, TV Programmes, I have noticed a recurring pattern. My favourite couples are never ever supposed to be together and there is nearly always a love triangle, which always makes me side with the forbidden love =].

In Twilight, Bella and Edward are not supposed to be together due to the fact that he is a vampire. Even though Jacob is seen as a better choice, as he is in fact alive, I love the Bella/Edward pairing a lot more.

In Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I love Buffy and Angel and even though Angel is a vampire, that isn't really seen as the reason that they shouldn't be together. The reason they cannot be together is the fact that if he experiences one moment of true happiness, he will become Angelus his former evil vampire self. Again there is another love triangle!!!! In season six, Spike falls in love with Buffy. His love is mainly one-sided as Buffy is still in love with Angel and probably always will be.

In Charmed, Piper and Leo can't be together because he is a whitelighter and it's forbidden by the elders, who are scared that if a whitelighter and witch were to have a child, the child would be too powerful. Dan is the guy Piper dates when Leo has to leave because the elders have said he has too. When Leo comes back there is a lot of tension between Dan and Leo and they basically tell her that she has too choose.

In Wuthering Heights, Catherine and Heathcliff make a really good couple, but they were never given a chance as Heathcliff was a gypsy and not seen as acceptable for Catherine to marry. Instead Catherine marries Edgar Linton.

In Blood and Chocolate, Aiden and Vivian can't be together as he is human and she is a loup-garoux (werewolf). Gabriel is seen as a better choice for her as he is leader of the pack and is also a loup-garoux. Even though I like the Vivian/Gabriel pairing better, this book is another example of forbidden love.

So i'll leave this here, as I am starting to take up a lot of space, like a certain Captain Libeka ( ILY really lol)

Mrs. Edward Cullen

Maximum Ride is Confirmed!

Sorry for writing so much in the last post, I just looked at it and its HUGE!
So moving along. A while ago I posted a blog about the rumored 5th Maximum Ride book, yeah?
Well, today my little ducklings a certain 'Mrs. Edward Cullen' informed me that it wasn't a rumour and that is was defiantly confirmed and the information is on wikipedia! So I let my fingers do some tapping on the key board and tada, I have the summary and the place to order the next book from (Not that you probably want to but whatever)!


Excerpt from Wikipedia, kudos to whoever made that website, I can safely say that you have saved many teenagers having to do a lot of research!

Water Wings: A Maximum Ride Novel
Little is known about this book, but it was confirmed that a fifth Maximum Ride book will be released on March 16, 2009. On target.com the title of the book was revealed to be Water Wings: A Maximum Ride Novel.

Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone--or something--is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late.
While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu--a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?

Hmm, it sounds to me like James Patterson had exhausted the supply of story lines and possible plots surrounding 'the school' or 'itex' and has finally moved onto something bigger and better (hopefully he doesn't ruin the first few books by pushing it too far).
This is the link I think that makes this book officially going to be written -http://www.target.com/Water-Wings-Maximum-Ride-Novel/dp/0316037591
Target are taking pre-orders on their website. If that isn't enough proof I don't know what else is. OH, I almost forgot. On James Patterson's website in his 'Q and A' page, when asked "Will there be more Max and Fang action in the 4th book" He replies "Yeah they are starting to get together those two, I can't leave them alone for a minute and it keeps percolating right up to book five"

BOOK FIVE. Enough said. I win. There will be a five book. Its going to be amazing!

I think that we may just have a 5th Maximum ride book on our hands ladies and gentlemen. Goodie, more of Max and Fang :)

Captain Libeka.

Persuasion and Northanger Abbey

I think it is that time again.

School's back!



Yes, the holidays and over are the countless days of lying in bed, on sofas or chairs curled up with your latest book. Fortunately however the holidays could not come sooner for a certain someone (myself) because I had officially exhausted my supply of new books to read. I had better stop blabbering and get to my point!
A few weeks ago I posted a blog explaining that I, Captain Libeka, would vow to complete at least three Jane Austen books in the holidays. I am sad to inform you all that I failed. I only managed to read two- 'North anger Abbey' and 'Persuasion'.
So here is my review of my time reading both.

Persuasion
Just a quick word of warning, if you are not a strong reader don't even attempt to read Jane Austen. It would be a long and arduous process which would not at all be very fulfilling.
When I started this book I was very optimistic that I could be able to finish it. I have to admit, that it did take me quite a few months. Austen's style of writing is (obviously) old fashioned and complicated. There are lots of variations between her writing style and one used in modern day.
1. She hardly ever describes people or places. After the brief- "He was a tall, fair skinned man, very handsome"- Jane Austen then focuses on a more in depth description of their personality. While I do find this different but its is slightly boring, I don't really want a page and a half on one persons personality, I would rather a little more attention to their looks (just so that I can actually picture them in my mind) -this is purely personal preference though.
2. She spelt a lot of word differently than what we do these days. For exampled 'Stayed' was spelt 'staid', 'shown' was spelt 'shewn' etc. I noticed this commonly throughout the book and it took a while for me to really get into the book and just read past these differences.
3. Jane Austen didn't write many conversations. In storied these days, the majority of the story line is made up of dialogue. Instead she writes things like "We talked about blah and blah, he asked who I was acquainted with and I responded. He then continued "Oh! I know the Ladies of whom you speak of"; we continued a polite conversation about our similar acquaintances."
While she does write full conversations, I would have liked to seen more of the main characters side to the conversations, she only writes them for important parts of the novel.
The one thing about persuasion that I absolutely hated was the fact that in the ending was so unsatisfying. Although it was 'proper' in those days, I would have liked to hear personal conversations more.
When the pair in this book finally confess their mutual feelings for each other (Don't read if you don't want it too be spoiled for you), the author basically writes "they walk into the garden, where their feelings were shared and the promises for the future were made."
I mean really, this is supposed to be the pinnacle of the book- the point that the whole books had been leading up too, the part which you are dying to read-, where the lost lovers finally admit that they still love each other after 8 long years, and its just "They and exchanged feelings and promises". I would at least have liked a better insight into the conversation.
But for all my complaining this is a wonderful book. Its well written, original and all that jazz. BUT, the main character, Anne, annoys me all the time! You feel like just giving her a push and telling her to reveal her true feelings! Although this is not her fault, it is the propriety of the people of England in that era.
Summary:
Its basically a lady names Anne, who at the age of 19 falls in love with a man who is in the Navy. He, Captain Wentworth, proposes to her but her close friend persuades her out of accepting him because her family is of higher 'breeding' than his and he is not very wealthy. Eight years later however, Captain Wentworth comes back from war a rich man but they haven't spoken in years (even though she still loves him). He is now a very eligible bachelor and a suitable husband but he treats Anne as if they are strangers as he becomes very good acquaintances with her family and friends.
Its such a cute story line, if you can get through the complexity of it all. This book is guaranteed to extend your vocabulary and gives you a wonderful insight into the social world of England all those years ago.

Northanger Abbey
This is a pretty funny book. It's ironic and witty. I was by now used to reading Jane Austen (since plowing my way through Persuasion) and I could easily follow the dialogue. I think that this allowed me to see the book as a whole rather than just trying to understand each sentence in itself. The humor is subtle- the main character/ narrator always comparing life and people to that in adventure and gothic novels (haunted castles, evil villains, damsels in distress and hero's).
This is a story about a girl, Catherine, who moves to Bath with her families close friends. She wants something to happen to her, she wants to be a hero or fall in love or be captured by bandits but she is finding that life is quite different from her books. In Bath she meets Henry and Eleanor Tilney who invite her to stay at there father's mysterious home with them. Catherine runs into dangers, both that she imagines and that is real and she is forced to learn about life and true and false friendships.
Its a wonderful book, I think that somewhere in this you will be able to relate, if at any point in your life you have wished that you could be in a book (aka. Twilight, girls :p). I also liked this books better because the storyline and character development required a lot more dialogue. I also found that this book was a lot easier to read- weather that was because I had read another Jane Austen just days before, or that it was just less complex I am not sure.
Although Catherine's naivety may annoy some, I found it cute -but sometimes it just infuriated me- this is a book that is really worth reading. I found that I could relate to her character slightly (shes only 16) and Henry Tilney is my favourite Jane Austen man (even beats Mr. Darcey! Shock horror) -hes very funny.

Gosh I should have warned you all that I tend to babble. A lot.
Okay moving along, I think i am going to re-read Emma and buy Masfield park (also by Jane Austen-that last two that I want to read) and I will write about them, maybe if you guys can handle my phyco babble. But then that is it with the classics for a little while. I think my head may explode (the key word being may, don't be excited that I won't be here to clog the blog).
Caio, Captain Libeka.